The "Breakfast Shoe!!!"

"The Breakfast Shoe!!!!"


The Breakfast Shoe is buttered toast, topped with eggs, hash browns, and sausage gravy. "Monte-licious!"

"Grant's" is in Athens, Il. and Doris was our wonderful waitress!

The "HORSESHOE!!!!" said the singer in a death metal band. scream it!!!

The “Horseshoe” at the Sunrise Café

The “Horseshoe,” an amazing piece of eaterie! The Horseshoe is toast, covered with yer choice of meat (ham, bacon, hamburger, turkey, etc.), then covered by hot pourable cheddar cheese, finally, it is topped off with fries. You can get the breakfast Horseshoe which is basically the same, except then you switch the cheese with biscuits & gravy gravy, and instead of fries, hash browns.
I never had a Horseshoe before until last night (April 18, 2010), and it has immediately become one of my favorite things to eat. The wonderful combination of bread, meats and melted cheeses, all topped by fries is a no brainer! It’s amost worth moving to the states capital. You really get an amazing taste sensation in yer mouth with every bite.

Melted cheese on top of anything is pretty much gonna be good. It’s almost like turning any food into a huge plate of nachos, but not really. It’s so freakin’ good!!!
The Horseshoe really is a fantastic food, and from what I know it is only served up in this central/southern part of Illinois. So next time yer in, or around the capital of Illinois, Springfield, stop somewhere, anywhere and try a Horseshoe! They are absolutely “Monte-licious!”

A few things about the “Sunrise Café;” I heard a commercial for a “Deep Fried” Horseshoe, then I was recommended to go and try one by one of the customers later, I heard every kind of music in there from hip – hop to rock n’ roll being played over the speakers, which I loved, everyone seemed to have tattoo’s on their hands or wrists, everyone was friendly and eager to tell us where to get the best Horseshoe in town and not one person, not even the employee’s named the place we were in!! but it was amazing at The Sunrise Café. And finally, I can’t wait to head out and some more Horseshoe’s today, which I will be doin’ very shortly!

Bon appetite!

Oh jeez!!! I almost forgot to tell you about the desserts at the Sunrise Café. Yes, they have some amazing sweets; they have homemade pies, and cakes. I got a piece of cake last night and my buddy got pie, we both agreed, excellent!!!!!!!

What fun at "Wah Sun."

"Wah Sun"

this is my spot when i just wanna chill with an egg roll, and some egg drop soup homey. Wah Sun is at 4319 N. Lincoln Ave.

also, kim, is one of my favorite waitresses of all time. she is the sweetest!

The "Trucker" special from FLYING SAUCER 1123 N. California

it's biscuits & gravy (the gravy is spicy!), small wedges potatoes (hash browns), poached eggs, fried chunks of HAM, cheddar cheese, and scallions!

What the?!! I can't believe the food is a as good as the waitresses are HOT!!!

Spot: Pancho Pistolas
Address: 700 W. 31st. Street (south side!)
Neighborhood: safe
Food type: Mexican


What the...


As soon as I walked into Panchos Pistolas I was like, what the...? It's pretty much all super hot woman workin' up-front. And I do mean smokin’ hot! The women here shame the Hooters women, shame! They were so hot, my first thought was, “No way can the food be good here look at all the hot chicks and the cheesy decorating".
So I ordered my basic starter for a new spot, my test food sorta speak. I got two steak tacos, only lettuce. Yes, only lettuce. I like to scale it down a little sometimes so I can really taste whether the meat is good or not. Any way, Pancho's meat passed with flying colors, it was Monte-riffic! The food is as good as the woman look. It was real nice charbroiled skirt steak that was perfectly butchered: no fatty krap and it’s not chewy. Plus, I also ordered a “Horchata” cause no Mexican restaurant is worth eating at if they don't have good “Horchata” and their “horchata” is great.
Since then I have been back several times and not once have I been disappointed. The pastor (marinated pork) is perfect. It's the kind on a spit that has been cooking all day in its own wonderful juices. And the chorizo is great.
The food at Pancho's is so good you'll want to hug me. Oh! And another great thing is: Freddies Beef is right across the street, which is very Monte-riffic!
Two people can easily eat a good hearty meal (minus the
alcohol, did i mention they serve booze?) For under $25 - $20. Now you know where to go for a good meal at a good deal.
You've just stepped “Off the Eatin' Path with Monte”. “Buenos Dias”

Come to the show tonight, and check out this link from WCIU!

http://www.wciu.com/youandme.php?section=monte&assetID=10001888

9 p.m. tonight
april 9th.
"the Lincoln Lodge"
4008 N. Lincoln Ave.
$10.00
"FREE FOOD" at the end of the show!

My all time favorite Pannini Sandwich! Baked, not pressed!

My all time favorite Pannini Sandwich! Baked, not pressed!

One of my current favorites right now is the open-faced baked pannini sandwich from "Caponies." It is easily one of the better sandwiches I have had in a long time!
So check it out, they make their own bread, not for everything, but they do for the pannini. The bread they make, it's kinda like a focaccia, the thicker Italian round type of tomato bread, but only the bread part. No tomatoes, olive oil, and Italian spices on top. Then, they split into two halves!! Which makes it ridiculously huge!!
Next they top each halve of the bread they just split into two with mushrooms, mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, olive oil, and Italian seasonings. But of course that is not all, that all sits on top of your choice of grilled veggies, chicken, prosciutto, or ham. And then they give you some tomato sauce on the side to top it off. And it's all baked in their wood burning, stone oven. “Monte-licious!”

Caponies is at 3350 n. Harlem Ave.

What I ate 3/12/2010

burt's was soooo good!!!!!!

3/11/2010 I ate.......

not a totally bad day, but the wings at the end....

What I ate 3/10/2010

not to bad of a day.

Burt's Place is the place!!!!!

spot: Burt’s Place
address/info.: 8541 N. Ferris Ave. (in Morton Grove) 1-847-965-7997
food type: Pizza!!!!!!
neighborhood: Morton Grove, a suburb of the great city of CHICAGO!!!

Burt’s Place (Pizza) in Morton Grove is the place!!!!

If you don’t know about Burt’s, well, it’s time you do.
Burt himself has a long history of being a pizza guy. He owned and operated some of the areas most favorite and popular pizza spots; “The Inferno,” “Gulliver’s,” and he was the original owner of “Pequods!” Yes, this man has a history of being involved in, and creating some of the more reputable places in town.
So I ask you, why would you ever go to any of his former spots, where he is no longer affiliated, when you can go right to the man himself? You wouldn’t!!!!
Go to Burt’s!!!
This man has been making some of the best, crunchiest, sauciest, pan pizzas since the year I was born! 1971!!! And man does he do it right. Especially with the help of his wife, Sharon, she single handedly runs the front, she’s the only server. And serve you she will. At Burt’s, the pizza doesn’t come to yer table, no, no, no, they sit it at a table next to you, where all the pizzas rest, and she serves it to you one delicious slice at a time.
The pizza itself is a not to thick pan pizza. Burt makes it just right, not to thick and doughy, and not to thin to lose the crunch from the sauce n’ cheese. And the sauce is just right, and is the perfect compliment to the nice layer of cheese it sits on top of. I get sausage and pepperoni, and man…. Is it freakin “Monte-licious!”
One important thing you need to know, actually there are two things; no credit cards, and you must call ahead and place yer order. That’s how they roll at Burt’s. And believe me, it’s just better that way. You show up and yer pizza is usually waiting for you, or is just coming out of the oven. This is especially great if yer doin it for lunch during work hours, saves you some time.
So check out “Burt’s Place,” call ahead, don’t bring a credit card, and they’re not open on Monday or Tuesday.

Monto At "Muskie's!"

Come see the live show April 8th. & 9th. 2010 at "The Lincoln Lodge" 4008 N. Lincoln Ave. $10 R.S.V.P. 1-773-251-1539

As always, a "Free" sample of food from one of the nights featured spots!!

this is a comedy "foodie" slide show. it is mostly adult themed, but if see youngsters in the crowd, i tone it down a bit. just a bit though.

What I ate 3/9/2010

i spent most of this day in milwaukee, and i bought some fireworks on the ride home to chicago!!! only the legal, safe fireworks. the ones that even children can use... like sparklers n stuff like that. you can buy the same stuff i got there, here at a walgreens.

What I ate 3/8/2010

so i am trying to write down, actually i am doin it, everything i eat. i am seeing if this will help me slow down a little bit.

so far..... it's been helping a little. but not really.

Filipino Tocino is where it’s at!

spot: Uncle Mike’s
address/info.: 1700 West Grand Avenue (312) 226-5318
neighborhood: Ukrainian Village
food type: American with some Filipino dishes


Filipino Tocino is where it’s at!


Uncle Mikes serves a breakfast that has few competitors; The Filipino Tocino! Yo! Filipino Tocino is a sweet pork dish from the Philippines that is usually served with breakfast. Basically what it is, is a sweetened, cured pork. It’s kinda like ham or it also comes kinda like sausage links, but it’s a red or pink and it’s sweet & sticky. It is “Monte-licious!”
Uncle Mike’s so far, is the only place I know of that serves it. And man do they serve it up! I suggest you get the combo, this way you get both cuts/forms of the meat. You get the ham slices and the sausage links., and you get a little more meat for yer dollar. It comes with garlic-seasoned rice, two eggs and toast. They also serve it with a bowl of Filipino rice n chicken soup and some free tea. You really get a lot of food with this one meal. And like I said before, it really is “Monte-licious!”
They also serve an excellent skirt steak & eggs at Uncle Mike’s, but the “Filipino Tocino is just too damn good to pass up when I go there. I’m afraid I may never eat the steak & eggs there again. Oh no!
So get out to Uncle Mikes and Filipino it up!!!
Oh, I almost forget, Uncle Mike’s is not typically a Filipino restaurant. It’s serves yer basic American breakfast and lunch food, but luckily, due to an attractive Filipino wife, Uncle mike’s has added some Filipino specialties to the chalkboard menu that you always need to look out for when dining there. You never know just what type of spicy dish yer gonna get.

My opinion of “Restaurant Week” in Chicago.

My opinion of “Restaurant Week.”

So I am not a big fan of spending a lot of money for meals at restaurants, especially not in a big city. Everywhere you turn there’s another spot serving a similar combination of the food you wanna eat at a lower price. Which is how it should be.

Recently my wife and I have attended several of Chicago’s fancier/pricier spots that are Zagat rated, and highly critiqued in print and on T.V. It has been restaurant week here in Chicago for the past two weeks. Yes, they extended it for a week. The deal is that these nicer places offer an “affordable” pre-fixe menu for lunch and dinner. “Affordable” means $22 for lunch, $32 for dinner. That is not really what I call affordable, but I suppose considering the same meal may be $5 to $14 more otherwise, it sounds like a deal. We tried our best to take full advantage of this gracious gift bestowed upon us by the upper echelon in the food world. We attended several different spots over the two weeks, and we have had some decent food.
Now before I go any further, I wanna mention that I don’t like to give bad words about a place; that’s not my deal. It’s just not what I do. I am a “tipster;” I try to show you where to go, and what to get when you get there.
Restaurant week for me only confirmed what I had already thought… you don’t need to spend a lot of cash to get a good meal!!! I was pretty disappointed with almost every spot we went to for restaurant week. Most places offered what was already their most inexpensive item on the menu for the pre-fixe. And when you got yer meal, it was definitely a pared down version of what you would/should normally get. It was a real eye opener for me. I felt like “…sheesh, I was right, I knew that spending a lot of money for a meal at a restaurant doesn’t always mean it’s gonna be a better meal. “
Sometimes it just means you spend more for your meal than you would have spent for it somewhere else. And who wants to do that? Not me.
One other thing I noticed with the fancier/pricier spots: the more ethnic places, not ma & pa spots, were owned and operated by successful, educated individuals who went to culinary schools and put together nice menus. They were not recipes from someone’s gramma and grandpa, which is what I definitely strive to find in any city or small town.
I am not gonna rule out pricier spots in the future, cause I did find some good meals, and I met some great people, but I know that if I am lookin’ to eat some pasta or chicken, that’s full of flavor, there are hundreds of spots in the city to find a full plate of what I’m lookin’ for, for under $10 per person. And they are all usually within blocks of each other.

And that’s what I do, do.

* please keep in mind that this is just an opinion, and at the end of the day... it just doesn't matter.

** i'd like to give a tip on one of the spots... "Tizi Melloul" was definitely a great spot, everything i ate there was packed with flavor and essence, and i left feeling like a stuffed grape.